Air blender for granular materials

ABSTRACT

A manifold for pressurized air is located at the bottom of a container for granular materials and is in communication with the interior of the container through openings in the manifold. Each of the openings has an associated air-operated poppet valve for opening and closing the openings to control the passage of the pressurized air from the manifold into the container for mixing the granular material held in the container.



1. An air blender for mixing granular materials comprising, in combination: a container for granular materials having a bottom discharge outlet; a movable closure for closing and opening said outlet for respectively holding and discharging the granular material; an annular air manifold located below said closure, said manifold having a chamber and a plurality of openings from said chamber communicating with the interior of said container through openings spaced around the discharge outlet; an inlet for pressurized air into the manifold chamber; an air operated piston member for each of said openings, each of said piston members located in a housing within the manifold chamber with the closing end of of each piston located opposite and below each of said openings; and an air inlet into the housing for controlling the movement of the piston toward and away from its associated opening to selectively open and close said openings to control the passage of air from the manifold chamber into the container, whereby pressurized air is always present at said openings.
 2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 further including means for adjusting the distance of travel of said piston member away from said opening for controlling the air flow from the manifold chamber to the opening.
 3. The invention as set forth in claim 1 further including: a source of pressurized air coupled to the air inlet of said manifold chamber; a source of pressurized air at a pressure greater than said first mentioned source; conduit menas coupling said latter source to each of said piston housing air inlets; and control valve means for selectively blocking and allowing passage of pressurized air through said conduit means to said piston housings for controlling the operation of said piston members.
 4. The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for adjusting the travel of said piston, comprises: a stop member located within said piston housing for stopping said piston member as it moves away from said opening; and means for adjustably setting said stop member to stop said piston member closer to or further from the opening. 